Lizeroux powers to World Cup slalom success

Lizeroux clocked just the 12th fastest time in the morning run, but set a blistering 55.53sec in the second to secure victory.

France's Julien Lizeroux powered to his third World Cup victory in the men's slalom here on Sunday ahead of Austria's Marcel Hirscher and Ivica Kostelic of Croatia.

Wearing the No.1 bib, Lizeroux clocked just the 12th fastest time in the morning run, finishing 1.15sec behind early leader Mattias Hargin of Sweden, but set a blistering 55.53sec in the second to secure victory.

Fifth at Levi, seventh at Alta Badia, third at Zagreb on Wednesday and winner on Sunday, the skier from the French Alps confirmed his form just one month before the start of the Vancouver Olympics.

"Today (Sunday), I had a lot of emotions swirling around inside me," confessed Lizeroux, who was greeted at the finish line by his mother.

"When I finished the second leg and had more than a second's advantage over the previous skiers and that the race was pretty close, I thought I had a good time.

"However, then my legs began to tremble a lot.

"When I saw Mattias Hargin (the last starter) was behind at the imtermediate time, I felt the most extraordinary feelings wash over me."

For Hirscher it was his first finish of the season in the slalom while Kostelic showed that he had suffered no ill effects from his knee operation before Christmas.

"I didn't expect to find myself on the podium so soon after surgery," said Kostelic. "I'm surprised with myself. The result is good but what's important for me is to know that my knee is good."

He added: "No-one could beat Julien Lizeroux today with his crazy run. I don't think he could do it again. You also need a lot of luck when you ski so fast because you're at the limit of making a mistake."

Hirscher believes a more relaxed approach helped him onto the podium.

"It's an extraordinary day for me because I didn't finish the last three slaloms," said the Austrian. "I always attacked at more than 100percent in every race and this time I only gave 90percent in the first leg, that's why I'm second today."

World Cup slalom leader Reinfried Herbst of Austria clocked the second fastest time in the morning only to ski off the piste minutes from the line, but holds his lead just four points ahead of Lizeroux.

Austria's Benjamin Raich finished fourth to hold his overall World Cup lead.